Doug Aldrich signature Amp - Blackstar DA-100 Ruby

mbenigni said:
Thanks for sharing your opinion. I was looking at used JCM2000s for pretty much the same price. The DSL100HR seems like a much safer bet.
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I prefer the HR, resonance pot is way more useful, and no risk of getting one with bias drift issues. I have a 100H but I think HR is even better (has MIDI switching for all modes and I think they tweaked OD2 a bit). Older ones feel a bit more rugged (feel a little less cheap), but Marshall build quality isn’t exactly boutique anyway and they’re pretty similar all things considered. Thomann was selling 100HR’s new for around €400 a couple of years ago which is nuts. I rank DSL’s right up there amongst any other Marshall, they sound amazing.
 
MirrorProfiles said:
Solid state gain stages/preamps, phase inverters all while being marketed as something beyond what they are.
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This I can get behind. Calling the HT5 or anything "All valve/tube amp" is just silly. Or just plain misinforming.

Can't speak for the PCB stuff. Are other BIG manufacturers (Marshall, Fender, the BIG players having far-east production) any different? I wouldn't know. I never had a Blackstar crap out on me. In fact I had never an amp crap out on me.
 
BahamaDada said:
One thing I will never get is the hate this forum has with Blackstars, while worshipping basically every other manufacturer, that does not sound better or worse.

I've had several Blackstars (including modeling and solid state stuff) and it was all quite decent for the price.

The Series One is still a hell of an amp if you ask me.
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Because they're characterless turds filled with components destined to enrich your local landfill?
 
BahamaDada said:
Which have you played?

I am no Blacksatar advocate and don't give a fuck about the company. I am just curious.
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I had the HT100 for a bit and I played the St. James el34 model in store for a good bit of time. The HT was BLAND with a capital B. Zero reason you would choose it over anything else imo. The St. James I still want to like, mainly because I like the form factor. It might be better in head/cab form but the combo was not enjoyable to me at all.
 
MirrorProfiles said:
I prefer the HR, resonance pot is way more useful, and no risk of getting one with bias drift issues. I have a 100H but I think HR is even better (has MIDI switching for all modes and I think they tweaked OD2 a bit). Older ones feel a bit more rugged (feel a little less cheap), but Marshall build quality isn’t exactly boutique anyway and they’re pretty similar all things considered. Thomann was selling 100HR’s new for around €400 a couple of years ago which is nuts. I rank DSL’s right up there amongst any other Marshall, they sound amazing.
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JiveTurkey said:
DSL are great bang for the buck @mbenigni . Excellent as an el34 power amp as well \m/
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Ugh GAS :D but otherwise, all great news. I was starting to despair at the "new normal" of everything half legit costing $3500+. :(

I don't really need a 100W head in my basement, but at $830 I might just allow myself one last "FOMO" moment and order one. (Then I can try to make up the difference by flipping my TA-30 "as is". Maybe get $500 for it?)
 
BahamaDada said:
This I can get behind. Calling the HT5 or anything "All valve/tube amp" is just silly. Or just plain misinforming.

Can't speak for the PCB stuff. Are other BIG manufacturers (Marshall, Fender, the BIG players having far-east production) any different? I wouldn't know. I never had a Blackstar crap out on me. In fact I had never an amp crap out on me.
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I’d say Blackstar is definitely shooting for something different to the big players in their approach and design and it generally means they are cutting more corners than the rest. Part of their innovative approach is to find ways to get the cost down so they are more likely to incorporate things that others don’t. And I think in every case for Blackstar, their innovation is with the intention of getting the cost lower (rather than to make something “better”).

I think Orange use some SMC in their solid state stuff, but Blackstar is the only one I can think of using them in amps with valves in them. Similarly, I don’t think any of those other brands are using solid state phase inverters.

Fender/EVH do use some fairly crappy caps that don’t age particularly well, and aren’t particularly well made. A lot of cheaper Fender amps can also be prone to issues which for whatever reason they are reluctant to fix properly. They’re EVH amps have enormous PCB’s with basically everything attached so you have to take the entire amp apart to get to it. They’re good enough though, generally won’t have issues, and when they do it’s at least something straightforward to do (and they have schematics available, Blackstar won’t provide them so readily).

Marshall is kind of middle of the road “mass produced” quality. I think they strike a reasonable balance although they’ve definitely had issues in the past. Boutique brands definitely tend to use nicer pots, capacitors, resistors, valve sockets etc.
 
mbenigni said:
Ugh GAS :D but otherwise, all great news. I was starting to despair at the "new normal" of everything half legit costing $3500+. :(

I don't really need a 100W head in my basement, but at $830 I might just allow myself one last "FOMO" moment and order one. (Then I can try to make up the difference by flipping my TA-30 "as is". Maybe get $500 for it?)
Click to expand...

I have a DSL100H, but IMO, all of them are great. The 2000 was built in UK, the H & HR are Vietnam. IMO, the H is built better due to the tube sockets chassis mounted vs PCB mounted. The 2000 has a switch to contour the tone, but the H & HR have the same but on a pot, so more adjustable vs on/off. In general, the 2000 and the H have closer to a classic Marshall tone but more modern vs the HR which has a more modern tone to me than the other 2. Also the HR has a 6 button FS that can control almost everything on the amp. The older 2 have bush buttons to turn crunch on/of, switch between Lead channels, reverb on/off, etc.

Whatever you decide, they are all great amps and have a fantastic price point. I picked up mine used for $250 and it's built like a tank. I also did the C19 mod on mine myself to get the lead channels to sound more like the crunch vs high gain, which is nothing more than clipping the leg on the lead channel bright cap.
 
mbenigni said:
Made me look. $830?? What's the catch? I gather they're built in Vietnam, but how is their reputation in terms of reliability, etc.?

Whatever the case, that's just crazy cheap. Sign me up for all the Indonesian guitars and Vietnamese amplifiers, please.
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Yeah, I believe it's Vietnam. Anecdotally, the only recent DSLs my buddy's shop has had in for repair were just retubes and speaker swaps (DSL40 combos). Blackstars generally aren't even worth the money to repair them, which is far, far more often. We've got a used HT40 combo we can't friggin' give away. :D
 
The Blackstar isn't really that interesting. The DSL talk even more-so.

How is the DSL40 (CR)? I don't want a head and 40w seems like a good sweet spot between power and portability.
 
Byrdman said:
I have a DSL100H, but IMO, all of them are great. The 2000 was built in UK, the H & HR are Vietnam. IMO, the H is built better due to the tube sockets chassis mounted vs PCB mounted. The 2000 has a switch to contour the tone, but the H & HR have the same but on a pot, so more adjustable vs on/off. In general, the 2000 and the H have closer to a classic Marshall tone but more modern vs the HR which has a more modern tone to me than the other 2. Also the HR has a 6 button FS that can control almost everything on the amp. The older 2 have bush buttons to turn crunch on/of, switch between Lead channels, reverb on/off, etc.

Whatever you decide, they are all great amps and have a fantastic price point. I picked up mine used for $250 and it's built like a tank. I also did the C19 mod on mine myself to get the lead channels to sound more like the crunch vs high gain, which is nothing more than clipping the leg on the lead channel bright cap.
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€400, $250... You guys are killing me! :D

The ability to change modes etc. via footswitch is definitely attractive. And of course, I'm Mr. MIDI so no worries there. :)
 
mbenigni said:
€400, $250... You guys are killing me! :D

The ability to change modes etc. via footswitch is definitely attractive. And of course, I'm Mr. MIDI so no worries there. :)
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Yeah, I just happen to be in the right place at the right time. I was at our local Boutique Guitar shop, https://www.jimmysvintagemusic.com/, and a guy walked in with it and asked him to buy it for $100. The owner said no, but would give him $200 because that is what it is worth to him. As soon as that deal was done, I asked him how much he would sell it to me and he said $250 if he did not have to touch it. Just pay him and pick it up off the floor on my way out when I was ready to leave.

BTW, mine does have a 2 button switch, one to change between the channels and the other to turn the reverb on/off. I think the 2000 does the same, but that 6 button FS for the HR is the shit!
 
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